TAMPA – Samuel M. Sipes, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lutheran Services Florida, has been appointed to the Florida Faith-Based and Community-Based Advisory Council.

The Florida Faith-Based and Community-Based Advisory Council facilitates cooperation between State Government and Florida’s faith-based and community-based organizations in order to deliver services more effectively. Of the 25 council members, 17 are appointed by the Governor, 4 by the President of the Senate and 4 by the Speaker of the House.

House Speaker Dean Cannon appointed Sipes to complete the remainder of the term vacated by the resignation of Rep. Dennis Baxley. That term expires July 26, 2012.

“Florida’s faith-based and community-based organizations provide a wide variety of important services,” said Speaker Cannon (R-Winter Park). “I am grateful to Mr. Sipes for his willingness to step into this important role and confident that his diverse experiences in Florida and across the country will enable him to hit the ground running.”

Sipes, LCSW, BCD, joined LSF in September 2007. As President and CEO, Sipes manages 600 employees who oversee more than 60 programs with an annual budget of $40 million.

Sipes has a background in leadership roles in nonprofit organizations, as well as experience in child welfare, social services and programs for senior citizens.

Prior to joining LSF, Sipes served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Lutheran Social Services of the South in Austin, Texas, which became the largest provider of children’s residential services in Texas with an annual operating budget of more than $100 million. LSS’s foster care program grew from serving 13 children to nearly 3,000 children during his tenure. Sipes also was instrumental in expanding residential and non-residential services to senior citizens as well as leading disaster response efforts across Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Sipes has served on numerous boards including the Council on Accreditation of Child and Family Services, the Florida Coalition for Children and Lutheran Services in America.

Lutheran Services Florida is a statewide, nonprofit human services agency dedicated to helping all people in need regardless of religious affiliation, age or national origin. Headquartered in Tampa, the agency has more than 60 programs located throughout Florida. Since it was established in 1982, LSF has helped more than 850,000 children and families. LSF’s mission is to bring God’s healing, hope and help to people in need.